Display device



DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Dec. 30, 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 sq. 15, 192s. y '1,553,902

(LJ/ACKSQNk msnm; Davids 'Filed Doc. so. 1924 e shee'es-shet 2 W7 ahum/woz,

Sept. 15. 1925.y c. JAcKsoN DISPLAY DEVICE Filed nec. so, 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 3` Snowdon Sept. l5, 1925.

c. JACKSON DISPLAY DEVICE med Dec. so. 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 sep@ 15, 192s.

c. JAcKsoN DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Dec. 3o. 1924 ann.: nu,

Patented Sept. l5, 1925.

l PE "To HENRY wmtmm tot NNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF T`\VOTHIRDS l.' v To allwhom z'mag/ concern.'

liBe it known that lI, CALVIN JACKSON, a citizen ofi the United Jacksonwald, in the county of Berksand State of qFennsyl-vania, tain new andwuseful Improvements in Display Devices, of which specification."k f v v Y i Myinvention relatesjparticularly to that classof display apparatus inwhich a plurality of lamp carrying forms ofjany 'desired shape aremounted for rotation'or oscillation yabout their findividual relatively spaced axes, vWhile' being 1 rotated about.. a common axis, to produce .visionary effects or illusions of-.a `kaleidoscopic ynature and therebyattract-and "retainfthe attention of the observer.,l and isfespeciallyY directed `tothes mechanism. Whereby'the relative movementsy of the` saidwlam -carrying formsinay-'be eiected. 'f f The principal objects lof my invention are to provide fra' display apparatus Withjcompact andy Well balanced actuating -me.cha.

nism, so correlated that Whenactuated, an

infinitely great variety of illusionary figure' eilects maybe produced.` i l*(Dth'ei objects of my invention are te provide a "display: apparatus'inj which display forms may-be given both a rotary 'andgyra-V tory motionwhile relativelyV moving inreverse directions to produce gradually chang,-

V ing visual illusions.

r My invention comprehends aV display apparatus having a` plurality of, relatively movable display formsmovrable,y in, acominon' Aplane linra series of compoundy gyratory paths. f

tion'V as hereinafter pluralitynotV display forms disposed in a, common plane and` connected :through a plurality of' concentric" shaftstov be rela-` tively moved in said plane lbythe coopera, tive rotationwof a plurality of frictionfdi'sks disposed in Iquadrangulariy relation andg'cooperative ,friction rollers i restricted Vto? tra' verse the y'ffaceiy of; said; a linear `diametral d path-fin "a3-reciprocate@ inannefrf and be connected gearing yto rotate saidigshafts at relatively diiferentpspeeds, `*and` thereby so varyy thek relative Afinov'einei'it nf said dis.; play formsasto produceapfipiiafitely great variety afi-:visual iillseeeaf States, residing at have invented.cerfl the following a peciically stated the'form of'my inven-v described comprises a v .ippucauonrniea necmbe so, 1924, aerial No. 758,808.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l isfav central verticallongitudinal sectional, view of an electrical display apparatus constructed in accordance .with my` invention, Figure .2 is atransverse. verticalsectional view-k of thexstructure illustrated-in Figure 1,'talren in a planeaon the line 2f2 insaidl gure normal to its' plane of section, certain, of the Aparts, being shown vin velevation for convenience ofl rear` elevational tain parts being omitted forconvenience of illustration Figure 4 -isk a plan. viewer said apparatus, certain partsebeing broken away and other parts o niitted. for convenience ofi illustration Figure 5V isja front or face view of said apparatus, illustrating ,possible shapes Afor the light carrying for1ns;Figure. 6 is a fragmentary detail on enlarged scale of the display form mechanism, andkFigure; 7 is a fragmentarydetail viewof theinner end ofy theconcentricyshafts. :i v Y n,

In said igures .the .frame of the apparatus comprisesfthe front plate 1 and back plate 2 connectedbythefframe beams 3, 4C, 5 andf 6 respectively carrying antifriction bearing 7, 8, 9.and 10, for the shafts 11, 12,y 13 andgli, which` carry at theirfkouter ends, the frictiondisks or Wheelsl, 16,117 and 18 disposed in quadrangular relation, and at their inner, ends, the bevel-gears 19, 20, aiandjea y i if As bestvshown in Figs. 1 and 2 the bevel gears 19, 20, 21 .and 22 fare, so disposed ythat their` teeth interengage the teeth,` of itlie bevel-gear 23 on thetubular. sleeve comprising 'theymain driving-shaft 24, which is carried by the anti-friction bearings ,25 and 26 in the frame plates 1 andI 2 and which has the gear Wheely or pulley 27, connected to be driven byv the sprocket chain4 or belt i 28 `vvitli the motor 29; see Fig. l,

The friction disk. or Wheel 15 is coopera# tive todrive the friction roller 30, which yis keyed jto, -sl-ide axially. y on, land Arotate, the shaft 32, disposed: parallel, with the. Lfriction. surfaceV of said disk, and journallediinthe antirfrictiony bearings, and 34a-iin the brackets 35and 36vvl`iicli are ext-ended tfrom the edgesoftthe frame plateslfand2j` Said friction roller 3() is connected ,by the antifric'tioii bearing 39 with the, crosshead 40, which is mounted forreciprocation on the guide rod, el al` ariria larad braak:

ets 35 and 36, and which is connected, to be actuated to slide the friction roller 30 diametrically across the face of the friction disk 15, by the connecting rod 42, with the crank-arm 43 on the shaft 45, having the worm gear 50 in mesh with the worm 52 on the shaft 11 of the friction disk 15.

Thus, it will be seen that the rotation of the shaft 11 not only effects the rotation of the 4friction disk or wheel15, but also effects a movement of its cooperative friction roller 30 axially upon opposite sides of the axis of rotation of said friction disk 15 whereby a constantly varying speed of rotation of.

said friction rollery is effected, in opposite directions, depending upon which side of the axis of said friction disk 15, said roller 30 may be traveling. r

As best shown in Fig. 1, the shaft 32 is providedwith the sprocket 53, connected by the sprocket chain 55 with the sprocket 56 of relatively larger diameter, which is mounted on the .tubular sleeve comprising the shaft 57 carried by the anti-friction bearings 59 and 60, and extended. axially through the main driving shaft 24, and carrying the swinging arm or member 62, upon which the display forms, to be hereinafter described, are supported, and counterbalanced `by the weight 63.

The friction disk or wheel 16 is cooperative to drive the friction roller 65, which is keyed to slide axially on, and rotate the shaft 66, suitably journalled in parallel relation to the friction surface of said disk, and said friction roller 65 is connected to be carried diametrically across the face of said disk 16, with the crosshead .67, which is mounted for reciprocation on the guide rod The reciprocation of the crosshead 67 is effected through the connecting-rod 70, which is connected with the crank-arm 71 on the shaft 72 having the worm gear 7 3, in mesh with the worm 74.on the shaft 75 which is` provided with the worm gear 76 in mesh with the wormr 77 on the shaft 12 of thefriction disk 16. Y

As shown in Figi. 3, the shaft 66 is provided with the sprocket 80 connected by the sprocket chain 81 with the sprocket 82 of relatively larger diameter, which, as best shown in Fig. 1, is mounted on the tubular sleeve comprising the shaft 83 carried by anti-friction bearings 84 and 85 in the tubular shaft 57 through which said shaft 83 extends. I y

The forward endof the shaft 83 is provided with the sprocket 86, connected by the sprocket chain 87 with the sprocket 88, the hub 89 of which, is carried by the anti-friction bearings 90 and 91 on the wrist-pin or stud92, and said hub 89 hassecured thereto, the rotatable display-form-carrying-frame 93, to which the display-form 94, carrying lamps or other suitably disposed electric lamps or other visible means to produce visual illusions, is rigidly attached.

The friction disk or wheel 17 is cooperative to drive the friction roller 95, which is keyed to slide axially on, and rotate the shaft 96, suitably journaled in parallel relation to the friction surface of said disk 17 and said friction roller is connected to be carried diametrically across the face of the disk 17, with the crosshead 97, which is mounted for reciprocation on the guide rod 99.

The reciprocation of the crosshead 97 is effected through the connecting-rod 100, which is connected with the crank-arm 101 on the shaft 102 having the wornrgear 103 in mesh with the worm 104 on the shaft 105 which is provided with the worm gear 106 in mesh with the worm 107 on the shaft 13 of the friction disk 17.

As shown in Fig. 1, the` shaft 96 is provided with the sprocket 110 connected by the vsprocket chain 111 with the sprocket 112 of relatively larger diameter, which is mounted on the tubular sleeve comprising the shaft 113 carried by the anti-friction bearings 114 and 115 in the tubular shaft 83 through which said shaft 113 extends.

The forward end of the shaft 113 is provided with the sprocket 116, connected by the sprocket chain 117 with the sprocket 118 whose hub .119 is also provided with the sprocket 120, and said hub is mounted to rotate on anti-friction bearings on the hub 89 of the sprocket 88 above described.

Said sprocket 120 is connected by the sprocket chain 122 with the sprocket 123 whose hub '124 is journaled in suitable anti` friction bearings 125 in the displayformcarrying-frame 93, and said hub 124 has secured thereto, the rotatable display-form 127, carrying suitably disposed electric `visible means to produce visual illusions, is rigidly attached.

` The friction disk or wheel 18 is cooperative to drive the friction roller 135 which is keyed to slide axially on, and rotate the shaft 136 suitably journaled in parallel relation to the friction surface of said disk 18, and said friction roller is connected to be carried diametrically across the face of the disk 18 with the cross-head 137, which is mounted for reciprocation on the guide rod 139. y

The reciprocation of the crosshead 137 is effected through the. connecting-rod 140, which is connected with the crank-arm 141 on the shaft 142 having the worm-gear 143 in mesh with ther worm 144 on the shaft 145 which .is provided with the worm-gear 146 in mesh with the worm 147 on the shaft 14 ofthe friction-disk18. .l y

As shown in Fig. 3, the shaft'136 is provided with the sprocket 150 connected by the sprocket'chain 151 with the sprocket 152 of relatively larger diameter, which as better shown in Fig. 1, is mounted on the shaft 153 carried by the anti-friction bearings 154 and 155 in the tubular shaft 113 through which said shaft 153 extends.

The forward end of the shaft 153 is provided With the sprocket 156, connected by the sprocket chain 157 with the sprocket 158 whose hub 159 is mounted to rotate on the hub 119, and is also provided with the sprocket 160.

Said sprocket 160 is connected by the sprocket-chain 162 with the sprocket 163 mounted on the shaft 164 which is journaled in the anti-friction bearings 165 and 166 in the hub 124, and said shaft also carries at its forward end the sprocket 167 connected by the sprocket chain which is mounted on the hub 171 of the display-form 172 carrying suitably disposed electric lamps 173 or other visible means to produce visual illusions.

The hub 171 is journaled on the anti-friction bearings 175 and 176 which are carried on the stud shaft or wrist pin 177, projecting forwardly from the display-form-carrying-frame 126, and said hub carries the electric contact ring 179 through which electric current to light the lamps 173 is supplied by the electrical conductor 180, which also contacts with `the contact-ring I181 on the frame 93, the contact ring 182 on the wrist- 5in 92 through which said electrical conuctor extends, and the contact ring 185 on the frame plate 1, from which it extends to the source of electric current supply. The contact ring 181 collects electric current which is supplied to the display form 127 through the lead 186, and contact ring 182 collects electric current which is supplied to the display form 94 through the lead 187.

It may be here noted that as Shown in Fig. 2 the worm gears 50, 76, 106 and 146 are not multiples of each other, but are of relative- 1y different diameters which effects a constantly changing relative motion of the display forms and consequently produces an infinitely great variety of form combinations to produce visual illusions which are not duplicated during a great many revolutions of the friction disks.

I do not desire to limit my invention to 169 with the sprocket 170 d the precise details of construction and arrangement as herein set forth, as it is obvious that various modications may be made therein, without departing from the esse-11- tial features of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

aving thus describedk my invention, I claim:

1. A display apparatus comprising a drive shaft, a plurality of friction disk wheels rectangularly arranged about the axis of said drive shaft, means operatively connecting said disk wheels with said shaft, a friction roller engaged with each of said disk wheels and arranged to be shifted lineally to tangentially engage the face of said disk wheel along a diametral path, a plurality of relatively rotatable members including isplay forms carrying means arranged to effect visual illusions, rotatable on axes arranged to gyrate about a common axis, and gearing means operatively connecting said rotatable members with saidv friction rollers to effect the rotation of said members at relatively different speeds, whereby an infinitely great number of combinations of relatively different positions of said display forms may be attaine 2. A display apparatus comprising a drive shaft, a plurality of friction disks connected to be rotated by said shaft, and so disposed about Ithe axis of said shaft as to conform to a polygonal figure, a counter shaft disposed parallel with the face of each of said disks in the plane of its diameter, a friction roller keyed to slide axially on each of said counter shafts in frictional engagement with the face of its respective disk, means actuated by the rotation of said rollers to effect their axial reciprocation on said counter shafts and thereby slide them diametrically across the face of said disks, a plurality of relatively rotatable members including display forms carrying means arranged to effect visual illusions, rotatable on axes arranged to gyrate about a commony axis, and gearing means operatively connecting said rotatable members to effect their rotation.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CALVIN JACKSON 

